The Ebor Festival has already delivered some compelling contests, with ITEM and KALPANA providing contrasting but equally memorable victories in the International Stakes and Yorkshire Oaks.
Wednesday’s (19 August) G1 International Stakes (2051m) had everything you could ask for in a top-level race. There was a strong pace, a world-class favourite, a horse who looked ready to confirm his emergence among the elite and, ultimately, a dramatic late finish.
ITEM (Colin Keane) had looked like being a non-runner with a foot issue 48 hours out. He was then boxed in two furlongs from home, switched right by Colin, and produced a storming late effort to collar ALMAQAM (Kieran Shoemark) close to the line. OMBUDSMAN (William Buick), rated the joint-best horse in the world alongside KA YING RISING, came into the straight last and never landed a blow. ITEM, who had already won the Dante Stakes and the York Stakes at the Knavesmire, is now three from three at York. Andrew Balding and his Kingsclere team deserve enormous credit for getting him there at all.
Twenty-four hours later, Colin, Andrew and Juddmonte did it again. In the G1 Yorkshire Oaks (2381m), the pacemaker was still 15 lengths clear with just over two furlongs to run, forcing KALPANA (Colin Keane) to commit earlier than ideal. She swept past, idled in front, then had to dig deep to hold SPARAN NUA (Rossa Ryan) by a short head, with MINNIE HAUK (Ryan Moore) third.
That is a fifth Group 1 success since 10 July for Juddmonte, Andrew Balding and Colin Keane. Whether KALPANA goes to Longchamp or waits for Ascot, she has earned her autumn. After winning the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot, she has now shown that she can perform at the highest level regardless of the conditions.
York has once again shown why the Ebor Festival is such an important fixture on the international racing calendar.
Closer to home, KA YING RISING returned to the track at Sha Tin yesterday morning (21 August) for his first barrier trial ahead of the new season and looked exactly as we hoped. Under Zac Purton, the co-Hong Kong Horse of the Year produced a strong finish to win his trial by nine and three-quarter lengths over 1050m in 1m 01.16s on rain-affected dirt.
KA YING RISING has won his past 20 races, a Hong Kong record. He returns on 6 September in the HKSAR Chief Executive’s Cup Handicap (1200m), newly upgraded to Group 3 and now worth HK$4.2 million. He has won that race for the last two seasons. In October he goes to Sydney to defend his crown in the G1 The Everest (1200m).
Zac thought him a shade rusty, but that is precisely what a first trial is for.
Attention now turns to the final day of the Ebor Festival. The G1 City of York Stakes (1400m) is the feature and is carded S5-2 at 10pm (Hong Kong time). This is only the second running since the race was promoted to a Group 1, and 14 runners have been declared. NOTABLE SPEECH (William Buick) drops back in trip for Charlie Appleby and sets the standard on official ratings; he is a win and place chance. SATONO REVE (Joao Moreira) was taken out of Friday’s Nunthorpe Stakes in favour of stepping up to seven furlongs after a nose defeat in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes and a third in the July Cup. The 1400m should suit a sprinter who keeps galloping to the line, and he is a win and place chance for a rider Hong Kong knows very well. TEN BOB TONY (Kieran Shoemark) and last year’s runner-up LAKE FOREST (Cieren Fallon) are place chances.
Half an hour later comes the Ebor Handicap (2771m), carded as S5-3 and run at 10.35pm, Europe’s richest flat handicap and the race that gives the festival its name. It carries a £500,000 pot, and is traditionally one of the hardest puzzles of the British season.
Saturday also brings a first. Winx Stakes Day at Royal Randwick joins the World Pool programme, with eight races simulcast from 10.50am (Hong Kong time). The G1 Winx Stakes (1400m) at 2.30pm (S4-7) is the strongest renewal the race has staged.
AUTUMN GLOW (James McDonald) was unbeaten in her first 11 starts before finishing third over 2000 metres in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes, and she is unbeaten over this course and distance. She is my win pick. SHEZA ALIBI (Luke Nolen) has won her past five, including the Randwick Guineas and the Doncaster Mile, and meets weight-for-age company for the first time. From the inside gate, she will need luck, but she is a win and place chance.
With Chris Waller responsible for five of the 11 runners, including place chance FANGIRL (Tommy Berry), who won this race in 2023, there is plenty of depth behind the two headline mares.
Source: Hong Kong Jockey Club